Poll shows text ban support

A new poll showing 95 percent of Floridians favor a ban on texting while driving could lend support to the campaign by two area lawmakers to pass the legislation this year.

“That’s why I’ve always said this bill is a no-brainer,” said Rep. Doug Holder, R-Venice, in response to the poll released Thursday by the University of Florida.

The widespread support is “remarkable,” said Emma Humphries with UF’s Bob Graham Center for Public Service, which conducted the poll.

“The results are conclusive,” Humphries said in a press release. “We could poll hundreds more Floridians and it wouldn’t change the fact that this legislation is widely popular.”

Yet the bill sponsored by Holder and Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, is still not a sure thing. It has significantly more momentum than in years past, when the bill failed to even get a committee hearing in the Florida House. The legislation has cleared two committees in both the House and Senate this year.

But the bill still must pass one more committee in each chamber. Holder said he has spoken with the leader of the final House committee and expects the bill to get a hearing. The legislation has passed every committee in both the House and Senate by unanimous vote, but committee chairmen have significant power over which bills are heard. Lawmakers have blocked the legislation in the past because of concerns it limits personal freedom.

Holder said he expects it to be debated by both the full House and Senate.

The legislation makes texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning a driver would have to be pulled over for speeding or some other offense to receive a texting citation. Florida is one of only five states without some kind of restriction on texting and driving, according to the UF release.

“It’s is a very, very, very popular piece of legislation,” Holder said. “The people of Florida clearly want this law and we’re working very hard to get it on the book.”

Last modified: March 28, 2013
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